Creating hospital-specific outcome measures can often be challenging and comparing between hospital rates during this process is difficult and often wrongheaded, particularly when assessing 30-day mortality, said Sharon-Lise T. Normand, PhD, of the Harvard Medical School in Boston at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) scientific sessions in Atlanta on March 15.

First introduced at ACC09, Amicas announced that 90 of its web-based structured reporting modules, Amicas Vericis clinical knowledge bases have been sold in the U.S. at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) annual conference in Atlanta.

NextGen Healthcare Information Systems highlighted its financing options that can help customers defray some of the upfront costs associated with implementing an EHR, at ACC.10 in March in Atlanta.

The materials management department, like other parts of the healthcare system, is feeling the pinch to become leaner and more efficient. The process to drive down costs and streamline communication includes consolidating materials management information systems, automating the requisition process and holding regular meetings with strategic personnel to ensure that everyone is happy with the inventory on hand and that compliance for contracted items is high.

Much attention in recent years has been focused on the growth in imaging volume in the U.S., especially the rise in tests performed in outpatient office settings. While in reality, the rate of imaging volume growth in Medicare has been slowing since 2005 and imaging spending dropped significantly from 2006 to 2007, there are ongoing attempts at both the state and national level to eliminate or severely limit the ability of cardiologists to provide diagnostic imaging services in their offices.

To ensure a smooth process, providers that proactively prepare for a recovery audit contractor (RAC) visit should apply a two-fold method by implementing a RAC taskforce and making sure accurate documentation and billing measures are in place, particularly with the help of health IT.

While awareness of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has grown among women since 1997, ethnic and racial disparities still exist and most women have preconceived notions and misconceptions about CVD and its preventative measures, based on a study published in the March 29 issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

The internet has had profound effects on healthcare by putting access equally in the hands of patients and physicians, thereby redefining their roles, according to an opinion article published in the March 25 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.